Jazmin Li
There are several programs that allow travellers to speed through security checkpoints at airports. TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, and Global Entry are three such programs. CLEAR is a biometric airport security technology that is available at over 30 airports in the US. It allows travellers to verify their identity by scanning their eyes and fingertips, rather than using identification documents. TSA PreCheck is a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) program that allows certain qualified passengers to use separate, shorter security lanes. Global Entry is a program run by the DHS's Customs and Border Protection (CPB) agency, which allows approved American travellers faster clearance through customs when re-entering the US.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Program | CLEAR |
| Technology Used | Biometric airport security technology |
| How It Works | Scans your eyes and fingertips and matches those scans with an encrypted code that corresponds with data on your irises and fingerprints |
| Cost | $179 per year |
| Number of Airports | 30+ |
| Complementary Program | TSA PreCheck |
| TSA PreCheck Cost | $85 |
| TSA PreCheck Application Process | Pre-enroll online, visit an enrollment center to get fingerprinted and show documents, receive a Trusted Traveler Number via email |
| TSA PreCheck Benefits | Keep laptop and liquids in bag, keep shoes and jacket on |
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What You'll Learn
Biometric airport security technology
Biometric technology in airports can provide a contactless way of identity verification. For instance, TSA is testing 1:1 facial matching capabilities by integrating a camera that takes a picture of a passenger and compares it to the image on their photo ID. Similarly, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been trialling the Biometric Entry Exit Program at U.S. Customs and Border Control (CBP). The program biometrically confirms the traveller's identity and their entry or exit, with an increased ability to detect fraudulent documents and visa overstays.
Facial recognition technology is voluntary, and passengers can opt-out and use the standard ID verification process. Digital IDs, such as mobile driver's licenses, are more secure than physical credentials, which can be counterfeit or fraudulent. They also offer more privacy as they only share the information needed to verify a person's identity.
Several international airports have integrated biometric technologies such as palm vein recognition and iris scanning to enhance security and streamline passenger processing. For example, Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, utilizes iris recognition technology at immigration and security checkpoints to identify travellers, enhancing security and passenger convenience. In South Korea, 14 airports, including Gimpo, Gimhae, and Jeju International Airports, have implemented palm vein recognition systems, allowing passengers to proceed through check-in and boarding without traditional identification documents, significantly reducing check-in times.
Other notable implementations of biometric technology include Pune International Airport in India, which has installed and initiated trials for an artificial intelligence (AI) baggage scanner system to scan passengers' luggage. Tokyo Haneda Airport in Japan has also conducted a trial using AI to analyze footage from cameras installed at boarding gates to classify baggage and estimate the space required in overhead bins in real time.
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TSA PreCheck
With TSA PreCheck, there is no need to remove shoes, belts, and light jackets, and electronics and liquids can remain in your bag. TSA uses unpredictable security measures, both seen and unseen, throughout the airport. All travellers will be screened, and no individual is guaranteed expedited screening. However, about 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes.
Children aged 17 and under can join an adult with TSA PreCheck when it appears on the child's boarding pass. To enrol in TSA PreCheck, applicants can start the application process online or walk into any enrolment location. Costs for enrolment vary by provider, and there are over 565 enrolment centres and local enrolment events daily. Applicants can select any enrolment provider based on cost, locations, and additional benefits.
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Global Entry
To be approved for the Global Entry program, all applicants must undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrolment. Travellers who are unable to schedule an interview at an Enrollment Centre prior to their international travel can complete their interview via Enrollment on Arrival when they arrive in the United States.
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Pre-enrollment and payment
To pre-enroll for the CLEAR security program, you can sign up online. CLEAR is a biometric airport security technology that speeds up the security process by scanning your eyes and fingertips, removing the need to show identification documents. CLEAR is available at over 30 airports across the US, including Washington, D.C. Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Washington, D.C. Dulles (IAD). It is also available at some stadiums and arenas, including Yankee Stadium and the STAPLES Center.
CLEAR normally costs $179 per year for airport membership, although stadium membership is free. However, some airlines, including Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, offer free or discounted memberships to frequent flyers.
You can add up to three people to your CLEAR account, and the service also offers benefits such as expedited passport services and easier luggage shipment. CLEAR can also be paired with TSA PreCheck for easier security screening, with no appointment necessary.
CLEAR+ is a new service that is five times faster, using EnVe Pods and face-first technology. You can pre-enrol for CLEAR+ by uploading your passport to the CLEAR app.
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Locks and luggage
It is important to note that luggage locks are typically low-security locks. They are designed to prevent luggage from opening by accident and may serve as a deterrent to potential thieves. However, they are usually easy to cut or break using bolt cutters or similar tools. Luggage locks based on a pin tumbler design are also vulnerable to lockpicking, even with simple tools like a bent paperclip.
When travelling with luggage, it is important to be aware of other security measures in place at airports. In addition to luggage screening, TSA officers may also screen personal electronic devices. Passengers are usually required to remove electronic devices larger than a cell phone from their carry-on bags for X-ray screening. This includes laptops, tablets, e-readers, and handheld game consoles.
To speed up the security process, some airports have implemented biometric security technology, such as CLEAR. CLEAR uses eye-scanning and fingerprint technology to identify individuals, allowing them to move through security faster without the need for identification documents. CLEAR is currently available in more than 30 airports across the United States, including Washington, D.C. Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Washington, D.C. Dulles (IAD). The service costs $179 per year, but some airlines offer free or discounted memberships to frequent flyers. CLEAR is also available at select stadiums and arenas, such as Yankee Stadium and the STAPLES Center, at no cost.
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Frequently asked questions
CLEAR is a biometric airport security technology that lets you speed through airport security by scanning your eyes and fingertips, rather than requiring you to provide identification documents. CLEAR matches those scans with an encrypted code that corresponds with data on your irises and fingerprints.
CLEAR airport membership costs $179 per year. However, some airlines, such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, offer free or discounted memberships to frequent flyers.
TSA PreCheck is a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) program that allows certain qualified airline passengers to use separate, typically shorter security lanes leading to the screening area. During screening, PreCheck passengers don't have to take laptops or liquids out of their bags, nor do they have to remove shoes, coats, and belts.
TSA PreCheck costs $85 for five years.
CLEAR is currently in more than 30 airports around the US, including Washington, D.C. Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Washington, D.C. Dulles (IAD).
